Time after time, the combination of our experience, unrivaled resources, and excellent customer service allows APG to deliver exceptional restaurant consulting results locally in Arizona, Las Vegas, California and nationwide. Contact us today at 619-300-4495 for a complimentary initial phone consultation.
Tom Kelley, President
Tom Kelley has spent a career creating, promoting and building brands for restaurant companies, hotels (including the Ritz Carlton brand and Marriott), franchises, private clubs, retail, and emerging businesses. Tom is a respected and recognized authority in the hospitality industry. He has served on the Board of Directors of the National Restaurant Association and on its senior management team in Washington, DC and as a leading Corporate Sponsor Representative at the American Hotel & Lodging Association. He has been quoted in regional business journals, major news dailies, Bloomberg and Businessweek. Tom has also appeared on CNN’s Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer, where he discussed crisis management issues. Tom has served on the Corporate Editorial Advisory Board of Hotel Food & Beverage Magazine.
Rob Meyne, Senior Supplier Industry Relations Consultant
Rob Meyne brings to the firm expansive expertise in bringing together and connecting businesses in the hospitality industry.
Most recently Rob served as Vice President, Corporate Communications at Boyd Gaming, a Las Vegas based public company, with 28 properties throughout the United States.
Rob served as Vice President, Industry Relations at US FOODS, the second largest foodservice industry supplier, working nationally with key distributors and state restaurant associations.
Previously, at RJR Nabisco, he was on the senior public affairs management team. He served on brand strategy teams, planned and managed marketing events, public affairs, public relations and governmental affairs programs associated with specific brands and company issues.
Meyne was formerly Executive Director of Corporate Communications for Carlson Restaurants Worldwide, the parent company of T.G.I. Fridays, where he served on brand teams, developed marketing strategies, events, guest relations, customer retention and frequency programs.
Meyne has developed branded programs, marketing events, community and civic initiatives for Mervyn’s department stores/Target Corporation, the National Restaurant Association, the Nevada Hotel, Restaurant and Gaming Association, the Muscular Dystrophy Association. He has also worked with Mirant Energy, Applebee’s International, the San Francisco Bay Area Council, the E-fairness coalition on internet taxation, the Business Roundtable, the Texas Public Utilities Commission, Philip Morris/Altria Group, Inc., and the Direct Impact Company.
Doug Watson, Senior Hotel and Operations Consultant
Doug has had an extensive career developing new properties, openings, and operating teams at hotels nationwide. He spent over 20 years as General Manager and Area Vice President at Marriott International and Ritz Carlton. With extensive expertise across all departments, he has a razor-like focus on improving guest experience through distinctive stays and the little extras. Be it revamping HR training, onboarding, mentorship, or restaurant concept development, no one knows the hotel industry better than Doug Watson.
Eric Cares, Executive Chef
A Culinary Institute of America graduate, Eric has extensive experience working with boutique hotels, independent restaurants, and high-end catering, as well as, doing research and development for prominent food manufacturers. His career in the hospitality and food service world spans over thirty years, and he is frequently asked to consult for leading food service organizations, including Trader Joe’s, Sprouts, and Costco, among others. Eric possesses an innovative approach to the culinary arts, and he makes sure to give clients results that impress and keep their guests returning.
